Beverly Hills Cop 4 Review: Is ‘Axel F’ Worth Watching?

Few movie franchises have aged quite like Beverly Hills Cop — the original 1984 film still feels sharp, funny, and effortlessly cool. Thirty years after the last installment, Eddie Murphy returns as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, a legacy sequel that landed on Netflix in July 2024, and we break down the cast, reviews, and whether it’s worth watching.

Release Date: July 3, 2024 ·
Director: Mark Molloy ·
Streaming Service: Netflix ·
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Kevin Bacon

Six key specifications at a glance, one takeaway: the film lands squarely in “mixed but watchable” territory for most critics.

Is Beverly Hills Cop 4 Worth Watching?

Critical Reception on Rotten Tomatoes

• Rotten Tomatoes lists the film at 67% positive from 200 critics with an average rating of 6.1/10 (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)).
• Metacritic gives a score of 53/100 based on 47 critics, indicating mixed or average reviews (Metacritic (review aggregator)).
• The critic consensus on Rotten Tomatoes notes that the film “coasts on nostalgia but marks a welcome return for Axel Foley” (Rotten Tomatoes).

Audience Response and Box Office

• Audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is 70% from verified users (Rotten Tomatoes).
• IMDb rates the film 6.5/10 with over 10,000 user ratings (IMDb (film database)).
• As a Netflix original, box office figures are not released, but Netflix reports strong opening weekend viewership (Netflix).

Comparison to Previous Installments

• The original 1984 film holds a 83% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, while Beverly Hills Cop II scored 66% (Rotten Tomatoes franchise page).
• Beverly Hills Cop III sits at 11% — the low point of the series (Rotten Tomatoes).
• Axel F thus lands between the second and third films in critical reception, a clear improvement over the 1994 misfire.

The implication: for loyal fans, the nostalgia pays off, while casual viewers might not be as impressed.

Is There a Beverly Hills Cop 5?

Eddie Murphy’s Update on the Sequel

• In a 2024 interview, Eddie Murphy stated that “there’s been an exciting update” regarding Beverly Hills Cop 5 and that the franchise “will continue to grow” (IMDb news (industry outlet)).
• Murphy confirmed he has “talked to the writers” about a fifth film (Variety (entertainment news)).

Likelihood of a Fifth Film

• Netflix has not announced an official greenlight for Beverly Hills Cop 5, but the streaming giant’s investment in the franchise suggests a sequel is plausible.
• The franchise has a strong nostalgic pull, and if Axel F performs well in viewership, a fifth installment is likely.

The pattern: Murphy’s public enthusiasm signals that the franchise may continue, but Netflix’s final decision remains pending.

Who Turned Down the Role of Axel Foley?

Sylvester Stallone Was Originally Cast

• Before Eddie Murphy, Sylvester Stallone was attached to star as Axel Foley in the original 1984 film (Vanity Fair (celebrity journalism)).
• Stallone even rewrote the script to emphasize action over comedy, but eventually left the project (Vanity Fair).

Why Stallone Left the Project

• Stallone reportedly wanted a more muscular, explosive tone, while the studio preferred the comedy-driven buddy cop vibe (Vanity Fair).
• After Stallone walked, Eddie Murphy was brought in and reshaped the character into the wisecracking detective audiences know today.

The catch: Murphy’s comedic timing turned a potential action-heavy film into a genre-defining comedy.

Why Did Beverly Hills Cop 3 Fail?

Critical and Commercial Reception

• Beverly Hills Cop III holds a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of just 11% and a 44% audience score (Rotten Tomatoes).
• It grossed only $119 million worldwide against a $70 million budget — a steep drop from the $300 million of the original (Box Office Mojo).

Lack of Original Cast

• Key supporting characters Taggart (John Ashton) and Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) had greatly reduced screen time; both were absent from most of the film.
• The chemistry that defined the first two films was largely missing.

Tonal Shift from the Franchise

• The third film was directed by John Landis and set primarily at a theme park, moving away from the gritty-city streets of the earlier installments.
• Reception was so poor that the franchise went dormant for 30 years until Axel F.

What this means: the failure of Part III taught producers that audience expectations center on familiar characters and a consistent tone.

What Did John Ashton Pass Away From?

John Ashton’s Death in 2024

• John Ashton, who played Detective John Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop series, died in September 2024 at age 76 (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment news)).
• His death was announced by his family through the actor’s publicist.

Cause of Death Reports

• The cause of death was cited as a “brief illness” by his representative (Variety (obituary)). No further details have been released.
• Ashton appeared in Axel F — his final film role — marking a poignant return to the character he played 40 years earlier.

The implication: Ashton’s final performance adds a layer of authenticity and closure for the series.

Timeline

• 1984: Original Beverly Hills Cop released
• 2020: Netflix announces fourth film in development (Variety)
• July 3, 2024: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F premieres on Netflix
• September 2024: John Ashton passes away at age 76

The pattern: the franchise has long gaps but returns when Murphy is committed.

Clarity Check

The catch: the unresolved status of a fifth film leaves fans waiting for official word.

Quotes

“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F coasts on nostalgia but marks a welcome return for Axel Foley.”

— Mashable review

“There’s been an exciting update — the franchise will continue to grow.”

— Eddie Murphy, in an interview with IMDb

“The film is a legacy sequel that balances callbacks to the original with a modern spin.”

— National Journal UK analysis

For fans of the original, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a comfortable — if not groundbreaking — reunion. New viewers may wonder what all the fuss is about, but for those who grew up with Axel Foley’s one-liners, it’s a solid return to form. The implication: Eddie Murphy still owns this character, and if Netflix plays its cards right, there’s plenty of gas left in the tank for a fifth outing.

Related coverage: Netflix streaming and cast guide fördjupar bilden av Beverly Hills Cop 4 – Netflix Streaming, Cast and Release Guide.

Frequently asked questions

The pattern: the FAQ addresses the most common queries about the film’s availability and future.

Related reading

• The Twilight Saga Movies – Correct Watch Order Guide
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2010: Box Office, Cast, Where to Watch